Information recording/reproducing apparatus and method and information recording medium

ABSTRACT

An information recording/reproducing apparatus includes a detector circuit for detecting a state of reflection light from the recording medium, a control circuit for calculating a radiation power used for writing the information in the recording medium, in accordance with the reflection light state, a pulse generator circuit for generating record pulse information in accordance with the radiation power, and an optical driver circuit for converting the record pulse information into optical information in accordance with the radiation power and driving the optical head to record the light information into the recording medium. Accordingly, the apparatus records information by applying light from an optical head to a record area of a recording medium and changing a state of the record area and reads the information recorded in the record area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to information recording/reproducingtechniques for recording/reproducing information to/from an informationrecording medium, and more particularly to informationrecording/reproducing techniques capable of optimizing light radiationpower to be used for recording information on the information recordingmedium, in accordance with the state of the recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

Optical disks and the like have already used practically forrecording/reproducing information by using laser beams. One example ofrewritable optical disks is a phase change type optical disk whichutilizes a reversible phase change between a crystalline state and anamorphous state. In order to obtain the amorphous state, an optical diskis heated to a melting point or higher by applying a high power (recordpower) and thereafter it is rapidly cooled, and in order to obtain thecrystalline state, the optical disk is heated to a crystallizationtemperature by applying a middle power (erase power) between the highpower and a read power and thereafter it is rapidly cooled. By changingthe laser power in the above manner, information can be overwritten witha single laser beam. A method of setting an optimum record power wheninformation is written upon radiation of a laser beam, is described inJP-A-7-73466 as a trial write recording control method. With thismethod, an optimum combination of the record power (high level) anderase power (middle power) for overwrite is decided in the followingmanner. Information is recorded with a record power having a constantratio to an erase power, and by lowering the record power, the powerlevel at which an erroneous operation during reproduction starts isdetected. By changing the ratio to an erase power, the above operationis repeated. The smallest ratio of the record power to the erase poweris obtained, and an operation margin is multiplied by the smallest ratioto determined the optimum record power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the present invention to provide an informationrecording/reproducing method, an information recording/reproducingapparatus and an information recording medium capable of high densityrecording wherein a laser power is changed by detecting reflection lightfrom a recording medium to suppress as much as possible the shape ofeach record mark from being deformed, to form a high precise record markand to improve the reliability of data.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide an informationrecording/reproducing method, an information recording/reproducingapparatus and an information recording medium, capable of increasing arecord data transfer speed during high precision overwrite, by switchingbetween preset optimum powers in the record area and in the non-recordarea.

In order to achieve the first object of the invention, in recording databy changing the state of a record area of a recording medium by applyinglight, the state of the record area is detected, and in accordance withthe detected state, light radiation is controlled.

In this case, the state of the record area is detected from reflectionlight from the recording medium, and light radiation is controlled inaccordance with the n-th (n is a natural number) detected reflectionlight amount and the (n+1)-th detected reflection light amount. Lightradiation is preferably controlled by calculating the (n+1)-th lightamount from the n-th light reflection amount and comparing both theamounts.

The above operation is performed periodically or any time as desired. Itis therefore possible to suppress as much as possible the shape of eachrecord mark from being deformed, to form a high precise record mark andto improve the reliability of data.

In order to achieve the second object of the invention, prior torecording data, light radiation powers suitable for the states of recordand non-record areas are calculated and the calculated radiation powersare selectively used in accordance with the state of each area. In thiscase, prior to recording data, a record mark and a space are formed inan area excepting the data field of a recording medium, and the lightreflection amounts of the record area and non-record area are detectedby using the erase power. In accordance with this detection results, atleast one of the record and erase powers is preset to control the lightradiation.

In this case, as different from the approach to achieve the firstobject, the preset power levels are switched between the record area andnon-record area to perform overwrite. Therefore, it is not necessary tocalculate a change ratio of the reflection light amount from the recordarea to that from the non-record area. Accordingly, the power level canbe changed at high speed, the high precision overwrite becomes possible,and the record data transfer rate can be increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit of an informationrecording/reproducing apparatus according to the invention.

FIGS. 2A to 2C show waveforms illustrating the operation of theinformation recording/reproducing apparatus.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating the relationship between recordwaveforms and record marks.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an example of a laser driver used by theinformation recording/reproducing apparatus according to the invention.

FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating the state of record marks afteroverwrite.

FIGS. 6A to 6F show waveforms illustrating an example of a powercorrection method according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a record level detectorused by the information recording/reproducing apparatus according to theinvention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of a power correctionmethod used by the information recording/reproducing apparatus accordingto the invention.

FIGS. 9A and 9H show waveforms illustrating. another example of thepower correction method according to the invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another example of the record leveldetector used by the information recording/reproducing apparatusaccording to the invention.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing another example of the laser driverused by the information recording/reproducing apparatus according to theinvention.

FIGS. 12A to 12C show waveforms illustrating another example of thepower correction method according to the invention.

FIGS. 13A to 13C illustrate the relationship between the sector formatof a recording medium, a data record start signal and a power correctionstart signal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows thestructure of an information recording/reproducing apparatus according toan embodiment of the invention. Reference numeral 1 represents a laser,2 and 4 represent a lens, 5 represents a recording medium, 7 and 7 arepresent a photo detector, 9 represents a reproducing circuit, 12represents a record level detector, 14 represents a laser driver, 15represents a record pulse generator, 17 represents a power monitor, and19 represents a controller.

The information recording/reproducing apparatus is constituted of anoptical system including the laser 1, lens 4 and the like, a recordprocessing system including the record pulse generator 15 as its mainpart, and a reproducing system including the reproducing circuit as itsmain part for converting a signal reproduced from an optical head into adata signal. The recording medium 5 is made of a record film and asubstrate for supporting the record film.

Upon reception of an instruction or record data supplied from a higherlevel host, the controller 19 analyzes the instruction, or modulates therecord data to obtain a code train corresponding to a modulation scheme.A synthesizer 16 is an oscillator for generating a main clock of theapparatus. If a record method called ZCAV (Zoned Constant AngularVelocity) is incorporated in which a different main clock is used foreach zone to make the record densities at the inner and outercircumferences generally equal and to increase the capacity of therecording medium, the oscillation frequency of the synthesizer 16 isrequired to be varied with each zone.

For servo control of the position of a light spot during informationrecording/reproducing, a focus error signal and a track error signal areobtained by using the photo detector 7 and a cylindrical lens (notshown) disposed in front of the photo detector 7. The error signals areinput to the controller 19 which in turn supplies a servo signal to aservo driver 18 to drive an actuator 6 and control the position of thelight spot.

For information recording, a code train modulated with record data andsupplied from the controller 19 and the main clock supplied from thesynthesizer 16 are input to the record pulse generator 15 whichgenerates a record pulse train for controlling the length and width ofeach record mark.

The record pulse train is input to the laser driver 14 which supplies arecord current to the laser 1 to generate a light beam with a highoutput power. The light beam from the laser 1 is made parallel by thelens 2, transmits through a prism 3, and is converged on the recordingmedium 5 by the lens 4 to thereby record marks corresponding to the codetrain. During recording, light reflected from the recording medium 5becomes incident upon the photo detector 7 whose output is supplied viaa pre-amplifier 8 to the record level detector 12.

Sample pulses of the record pulse train are input to the record leveldetector 12 which detects a change in the reflection light duringrecording and outputs it to the controller 19. In accordance with thisdetected change, the controller 19 calculates an optimum record power sothat the laser driver 14 can operate to apply a laser beam with theoptimum record power to the recording medium 5. In such a manner, sincean optimum power is always set, record marks can be recorded with highprecision.

A high frequency superposing circuit 13 is provided in order to reducenoises to be caused by the laser 1. From the viewpoint of a life time ofthe laser, high frequency superposition may be stopped duringrecord/erase operation.

For reproduction, the laser 1 oscillates at an output power lower thanthat during recording, and the laser beam is applied to the recordingmedium 5. Light reflected from the recording medium 5 is guided to aseparate optical path by the prism 3 and becomes incident upon the photodetector 7 which photoelectrically converts the reflection light. Thesignal output from the photo detector 7 is then amplified by thepre-amplifier 8 and input to the reproducing circuit 9 constituted of awave equalizer, an automatic gain controller, a binarizing circuit andthe like, which circuit 9 changes an input reproduction signal to abinarized signal.

The binarized signal of the reproducing circuit 9 is input to a PLL(Phase Locked Loop) circuit 10 for self-blocking which means that thebasic frequency of binarized signal or data is used for a clock signal.A reproduction clock synchronized with the binarized signal obtained bythe PLL circuit 10 is input to a discriminating circuit 11 for datadiscrimination. A data discrimination signal obtained by thediscriminating circuit 11 is input to the controller 19 to demodulatedata from the discrimination signal.

Next, a method of recording information on a recording medium accordingto an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C. Inthis embodiment, a modulation method using (1, 7) RLL codes isincorporated. FIGS. 2A and 2B show record code trains modulated inaccordance with the main clock supplied from the synthesizer 16 and therecord data supplied from the controller 19, respectively shown in FIG.1. These record cord trains include seven trains 2 Tw to 8 Tw in thecase of (1, 7) RLL codes, each being a NRZI (Non Return To Zero Inverse)signal which reverses its polarity at the modulation code “1” for marklength recording. Tw is a detection window width which is equal to theperiod Tw of the main clock supplied from the synthesizer 16.

The record pulse generator 15 generates a record pulse train (FIG. 2C)corresponding to the high level of the record code shown in FIG. 2B. Thepulse width of the start pulse of the record pulse train shown in FIG.2C is different from those of the second and following pulses, in orderto prevent the width of a record mark from being varied with heat oflaser radiation. The start pulse has a pulse width of 3/2 Tw shorter by1/2 Tw than the pulse width 2 Tw of the (1, 7) RLL code. The recordpulse trains having the pulse width of 3 Tw or longer shown in FIG. 2Chave a pulse width corresponding to the first pulse 3/2 Tw and acombination of the second and following pulses 1/2 Tw and spaces 1/2 Tw(same as the main clock waveform). These pulses are generatedsynchronously with the main clock shown in FIG. 2A so that the precisionof the pulse width and interval can be improved. The pulse width of eachrecord pulse train shown in FIG. 2C can be set to a desired value whichis an integer multiple of the period 1/2 Tw of the main clock.

FIGS. 3A to 3C show the relationship between a record waveform (FIG.3A), control signals (FIG. 3B) and record marks (FIG. 3C). The recordwaveform shown in FIG. 3A is constituted of the record pulse train andgaps as shown in FIG. 2C. As shown in FIG. 3B, at the ends of the recordpulse trains A and B, the record pulse train C provides a suspension orgap period having a width of Tw. Since the record pulse train C providesthe gap having a certain time width (in this example, Tw) after thefinal end (final trailing edge of a mark forming portion) of the recordpulse train A or B, heat from the final end of the record pulse train Aor B can be prevented from changing the temperature at the leading edgeof the next pulse train. The control signals shown in FIG. 3B aregenerated by the record pulse generator 15 and supplied to the laserdriver 14. FIG. 3C shows record marks formed by applying the laser pulsetrain having the record waveform shown in FIG. 3A.

The laser power is set to five levels. As shown in FIG. 3A, the laserpower has five levels, including: a reproduction power Pr; a power Pblower than the reproduction power by an amount corresponding to asuspension of high frequency superposition during recording; an erasepower Pe set by the record pulse train C; and record powers Pw1 and Pw2set by the record pulse trains A and B. During reproduction, the powermonitor 17 monitors a change in the reproduction power, and feeds backthis change to the laser 1 to maintain the reproduction power Prconstant. As shown in FIG. 3A, the record waveform has a power of thestart pulse 3/2 Tw set lower by ΔPw2 than the power of the succeedingpulse 1/2 Tw. In this manner, the width of the record mark formed by thepreceding record pulse train is made equal to that of the record markformed by the succeeding record pulse train, and at the same time, therecord mark lengths can be controlled with high precision. In otherwords, the temperature at the recording medium set by the precedingrecord pulse train is made equal to the that set by the succeedingrecord pulse train so that the record mark width can be made constant.Therefore, the amplitude of a reproduction signal obtained from therecording medium becomes constant. A binarized signal can be formed byslicing the reproduction signal at the center of its amplitude or at acertain level.

FIG. 4 shows the laser driver 14 for generating record marks accordingto an embodiment of the invention. The record pulse trains A, B and Cshown in FIG. 3B are input via inverters 41 to current switches 42 whichdrive the pulse trains at high speed. The amount of current of eachcurrent switch 42 is controlled by the controller via each D/A converter43. Each current amount is determined by the current/powercharacteristics (I-L characteristics) of the laser 1, and FIG. 3A showsthe laser powers (ΔPw1, ΔPw2 and ΔPe) applied to the recording medium 5.In response to the on/off of each recording pulse train A, B, C, currentflows through the laser 1 and the record waveform shown in FIG. 3A canbe obtained. An APC (Auto Power Controller) circuit 44 controls acurrent to be supplied to the laser 1 in accordance with an instructionfrom the power monitor 17.

For comparison with the present invention, the shapes of record marksformed by a conventional technique will be described with reference toFIGS. 5A to 5C. FIG. 5A shows the shapes of record marks recorded on arecording area of a recording medium, FIG. 5B shows the amount of lightreflected from the recording medium during overwrite, and FIG. 5C showsthe shapes of record marks overwritten on the recording medium with therecord marks shown in FIG. 5A. In a phase change type optical disk,generally the crystalline state corresponds to a non-record or erasestate and the amorphous state corresponds to a record state. The lengthand width of each record mark shown in FIG. 5A are highly precise. Lightabsorption is large in the amorphous region (mark) and small in thecrystalline region (space), so that the amount of reflection lightreduces in the mark region as indicated by a solid line in FIG. 5B. Thebroken line indicates the amount of reflection light if the mark is notrecorded and the region is in a non-record or erase state. Therefore, asnew record marks are overwritten, the length of the mark becomes long byα and the width becomes wide by γ, as shown in FIG. 5C, lowering thereliability of data.

FIGS. 6A to 6F illustrate power correction for record marks to beoverwritten, In the example shown in FIGS. 6A to 6F, the powercorrection is performed by using the erase power Pe. A new recordpattern (a mark length 3 Tw, a space length 5 Tw, and a mark length 3Tw) is overwritten on a recording medium with the record pattern (a marklength 4 Tw, a space length 2 Tw, and a mark length 2 Tw) alreadywritten. FIG. 6A shows a data record start signal. When this signalrises, new data is recorded. FIG. 6B shows a power correction startsignal used immediately before data record for generating a correctederase power.

The timing when the power correction start signal is generated will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 13A to 13C. The recording medium 5 iswritten with data in the sector format such as shown in FIG. 13A. Anaddress field 20 is an area for storing a physical address of thepre-recorded sector of the disk, and a data field 22 is an area forstoring data. A gap field 21 is provided between the address field 20and data field 22, as a switching area to the record operation after therecord sector is confirmed by the address field 20. A buffer field 23 isan area for absorbing a shift in the data field to be caused by arotation variation of the recording medium 5 during recording.

FIG. 13B shows the data record start signal (corresponding to FIG. 6A)in response to which the data record in the data field starts. FIG. 13Cshows the power correction start signal (corresponding to FIG. 6B) whichis generated at the start of the gap field 21 before the data field 22and terminated at the end of the data field 22.

The reason why the power correction start signal is set up before thedata record start signal is as follows. Since the gap field 21 is notwritten with data, it is always in a non-record state. Therefore, evenif the erase power is applied to this field, a reflection factor in thenon-record state (crystalline state) can be obtained always.

Returning back to the description of FIGS. 6A to 6F, FIG. 6C showssample pulses used for detecting light (FIG. 6D) reflected from therecording medium. These sample pulses can be generated easily by usingthe main clock and record pulse trains generated by the record pulsegenerator 15.

The sample pulses shown in FIG. 6C is generated from the main clockshown in FIG. 2A and the record pulse trains A and C of the controlsignals shown in FIG. 3B. Specifically, the sample signals shown in FIG.6C are generated by the record pulse generator 15 shown in FIG. 1 aslogical products of inverted signals of the main clock shown in FIG. 2Aand a logical product of the record pulse trains A and C. The pulsewidth of the sample pulse can be set as desired.

In this embodiment, the sample pulses are used for detecting a level ofthe erase power Pe shown in FIG. 3A. Sample pulses for detecting therecord power level can also be formed easily from the main clock andrecord pulse trains driving the laser driver 14. Sample pulses fordetecting levels of the record powers Pw1 and Pw2 can be formed in asimilar manner from the main clock and record pulse trains A and B.

As above, by using sample pulses generated from the main clock (FIG. 2A)and record pulse trains (FIG. 3B), the levels of the erase and recordpowers can be easily detected.

FIG. 6D shows the amount of reflection light during overwrite. Thereflection light in a conventional method is indicated by a solid line,whereas the erase level after power correction is indicated by a brokenline. FIG. 6E shows the corrected erase power level during overwrite,and FIG. 6F shows the shapes of record marks with power correction.

The power correction operation will be described. In response to thepower correction start signal shown in FIG. 6B, only the erase power Peshown in FIG. 3A is applied to the recording medium 5. By using thefirst sample pulse shown in FIG. 6C, the reflection light level isdetected in the non-record or erase state to obtain the relationshipbetween the radiated power and the reflection light level (voltage fromthe pre-amplifier 8) to predict the reflection light level to bedetected by the next sample pulse shown in FIG. 6C. The predictedreflection light level is compared with that measured by using the nextsample pulse. The power is changed in accordance with a change ratio ofthe measured value to the predicted value. The above operations arerepeated for each sample pulse shown in FIG. 6C. Namely, the (n+1)-thpredicted value calculated from the n-th measured value is compared withthe (n+1)-th measured value, and the power is changed in accordance withits change ratio. In this manner, even if there are marks alreadyrecorded, the shape of a new mark becomes generally the same as that ofa mark recorded in a non-record area.

FIG. 7 shows the record level detector 12 according to an embodiment ofthe invention. The record level detector 12 is constituted of asample/hold circuit 70 and an A/D converter 71. A voltage converted fromreflection light by the photo detector 7 is amplified by thepre-amplifier 8 to have a predetermined level and input to thesample/hold circuit 70. This voltage held by the sample/hold circuit 70in response to the sample pulse (FIG. 6C) is supplied to the A/Dconverter 71. The converted digital voltage is supplied to thecontroller 19.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of a program for apower correction method. This power correction program is executed bythe controller 19. In response to the power correction start signal(FIG. 6B), initial values are set at step 81. This step corresponds to asetting program of the power correction program. The initial valuesinclude the i-th (first) measured voltage (Vm)_(i), a ratio (Km)_(i)=1to a predicted voltage (Vs)₁, correction powers δPe, δPw1 and δPw2 (=0),and reference powers ΔPe, ΔPw1 and ΔPw2. The reference powers areoptimum record powers set by the controller 19. Next, it is checked atstep 82 whether the power correction period continues. If in the powercorrection period, the power correction method continues, whereas ifnot, it is terminated at step 83. These steps correspond to a checkprogram of the power correction program. During the power correctionperiod, the controller 19 fetches the measured voltage Vm (reflectionlight level) at each sample pulse (FIG. 6C) at step 84 to perform thefollowing processes 1 to 5 at step 85. This step corresponds to acorrection value calculation program of the power correction program.

Process 1: a ratio Ks of the erase power ΔPe to a reference voltage Vsis calculated.

Ks=Vs/ΔPe, if i=1, Vs=(Vs)_(i)=(Vm)_(i)

(this calculation is performed only for the first sample pulse, orbefore the data record start).

Process 2: a ratio (Km)_(i+1) of a measured voltage (Vm)_(i+1) to apredicted voltage (Vs)_(i+1) is calculated.

(for (i+1)-th sample pulse)

(Vs)_(i+1)=Ks×(ΔPe)_(i)

(Km)_(i+1)=(Vm)_(i+1)/(Vs)_(i+1)

If i=1, (Vs)_(i)=Vs and (ΔPe)_(i)=ΔPe.

Process 3: correction powers (δPe)_(i+1), (δPw1)_(i+1) and (δPw2)_(i+1)are calculated.

(δPe)_(i+1)=((Km)_(i+1)−1)ΔPe

if i=1, (δPe)_(i)=0

(δPw1)_(i+1)=((Km)_(i+1)−1)ΔPw1

if i=1, (δPw1)_(i)=0

(δPw2)_(i+1)=((Km)_(i+1)−1)ΔPw2

if i=1, (δPw2)_(i)=0.

Process 4: corrected powers (ΔPe)_(i+1), (ΔPw1)_(i+1) and (ΔPw2)_(i+1)are calculated.

 (ΔPe)_(i+1)=ΔPe+(δPe)_(i+1)

if i=1, (ΔPe)_(i)=ΔPe

(ΔPw1)_(i+1)=ΔPw1+(δPw1)_(i+1)

if i=1, (ΔPw1)_(i)=ΔPw1

(ΔPw2)_(i+1)=ΔPw2+(δPw2)_(i+1)

if i=1, (ΔPw2)_(i)=ΔPw2.

Process 5: the powers are set again.

In the above processes 1 to 5, the process 1 is performed immediatelyafter the power correction starts to calculate the ratio Ks of the powerto the reference voltage for calculation of the predicted voltage Vs.The ratio Ks of the power to the voltage is a ratio in the non-recordstate (crystalline state) wherein the erase power is applied to thenon-record area before the data record starts, this area being always inthe non-record state (crystalline state). It is therefore alwayspossible to calculate the ratio Ks in the non-record state (crystallinestate).

In the processes 2 to 5, data obtained by the (i+1)-th sample pulse isused together with data obtained by the i-th sample pulse at theprocess 1. At the process 2, the (i+1)-th predicted voltage (Vs) iscalculated as a product of the i-th ΔPe and the ratio Ks to calculatethe ratio (Km)_(i+1) of the measured voltage (Vm)_(i+1) to the predictedvoltage (Vs)_(i+1). In this case, the measured voltage is lower than thepredicted voltage if light is applied to the area with the record mark,because of a different light absorption. Therefore, the change ratio isreflected upon the record and erase powers to lower the powers andeliminate a different light absorption. If the area has no record mark,the measured voltage and predicted voltage are equal so that the poweris not necessary to be changed. This operation is performed at theprocesses 3 and 4, and the new power set at the process 5 is supplied tothe laser driver 14.

Why it is necessary to calculate the predicted voltage will bedescribed. The measured voltage becomes lower than the predicted voltagenot only by the presence of a record mark but also by a corrected powerset upon detection of the record mark. Therefore, if there is a recordmark which extends over a plurality of sample pulses (FIG. 6C), thepower is lowered at each sample pulse by the power correction method, sothat an optimum power cannot be calculated. However, since the ratio Kmof the measured voltage to the predicted value is used, this problem canbe solved. Specifically, if the record mark is already present, theratio Km smaller than “1” is used to lower the corrected power than theinitial power, whereas if there is no record mark, i.e., the non-recordstate (crystalline state), the ratio Km=1 is used so that the correctionpower becomes zero and the initially set reference power is used as thecorrected power. In this manner, by incorporating the predicted voltage,it becomes possible to discriminate between the record state andnon-record state and set an optimum power.

After the data record starts, the above processes 2 to 5 are repeated sothat a record mark can be formed with high precision. In the abovedescription, the power is corrected by detecting a change in thereflection light amount by using the erase power. It is also possible tocorrect the power by detecting a change in the reflection light amountby using the record power level Pw1, Pw2. In this case, the samplepulses can be generated from the main clock and the record pulse trainA, and the predicted voltage can be calculated as a product of the ratioKs calculated at the process 1 and a reference power ΔPw1, ΔPw2. Also inthis case, although there is a different light absorption factor, theprocesses similar to the above are performed to obtain an optimum recordpower.

If the frequency of the main clock is set higher (e.g., an integermultiple of the main clock), the period of the sample pulses can beshortened so that the power can be corrected more precisely. In thisembodiment, the reflection light amount is detected and the power iscorrected at each sample pulse. Instead of sample pulses, the voltagemay be monitored at all times in an analog manner to correct the powerin accordance with the voltage change. In this case, it is obvious thatmarks can be formed more precisely.

Next, the power correction method according to another embodiment of theinvention will be described. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A to 6Fand FIG. 8, the controller 19 is used for realizing a high precisionpower correction. In this embodiment, power can be corrected with a moresimplified circuit structure, assuming that the light absorption factorof an area with a record mark is known in advance.

The signals shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B are the same as those shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B. In this embodiment, two types of sample pulses A and Bare used as shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D to detect a light absorptiondifference between the mark and space. At each sample pulse A, thereflection light amount is detected by using a newly set erase power,and at each sample pulse B, the reflection light amount is detected byusing an erase power set before its newly set erase power. Immediatelybefore data is recorded (from the power correction start signal to thedata record start signal), the sample pulses A and B may be generated atthe same timings. The reflection light level detected by using thesample pulse A is used as a reference level. In order to detect a lightabsorption difference between the mark and space, positive and negativelevels smaller in absolute value than the level change to be caused by alight absorption difference are added to the reference level to obtaintwo levels which are set to comparators 104 a and 104 b (FIG. 10). Thecomparators 104 a and 104 b compare the set levels with the leveldetected by using the sample pulse B.

The levels set to the comparators 104 a and 104 b are shown in FIG. 9Htogether with the reflection light during overwrite. The solid line inFIG. 9H shows the reflection light amount without power correction, andthe broken line shows the erase level with power correction. Inaccordance with the signals output from the comparators 104 a and 104 b,a current reduction signal shown in FIG. 9G is obtained. This currentreduction signal is supplied to the laser driver 14 to change the power.The reflection light level detected at each sample pulse A by using anewly set erase power is compared with the reflection light leveldetected at the next sample pulse B. If the latter level exceeds thelevel set to the comparator 104 b, it can be judged that the lightabsorption is in the area of the mark so that the power is lowered,whereas if it exceeds the level set to the comparator 104 a, it can bejudged that the light absorption is in the area of the space so that thepower is increased.

FIG. 10 shows the record level detector 12 according to anotherembodiment of the invention. An output of the pre-amplifier 8 is inputto two sample/hold circuits 100 a and 100 b operating in response to thesample pulses A and B shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D. A level sampled and heldin response to the sample pulse A is supplied to a non-invertingamplifier 101 and to an inverting amplifier 102 having the gains of +1/G(G is an optional constant) and −1/G to generate the positive andnegative levels smaller than in absolute value than the level to becaused by a light absorption difference. These levels and the leveldetected in response to the sample pulse A are supplied to two additionamplifiers 103 a and 103 b having the gain “1” or the same gain, theoutputs from the amplifiers 103 a and 103 b being set to the comparators104 a and 104 b as reference levels.

A level detected in response to the sample pulse B is supplied to thecomparators 104 a and 104 b whose outputs are supplied to a NOR circuit105. Only when the two outputs of the comparators 104 a and 104 b havethe “low” level, the current reduction signal takes the “high” level,and in other cases, it takes the “low level”. This signal is delayed bya delay circuit 106 by a time corresponding to the sample pulse. If thecurrent reduction signal takes the “high level”, the power applied tothe recording medium is lowered, whereas if it takes the “low level”,the power is set to the initial value so that the power can be changedat the non-record area and at the record area.

FIG. 11 shows the laser driver 14 for generating a record waveformaccording to another embodiment of the invention. Although thefundamental operation is the same as the laser driver 14 shown in FIG.4, the controller 19 sets beforehand the reference powers and correctedpowers lowered by the amount corresponding to light absorption for eachrecord pulse train. The current reduction signal described with FIG. 10is used for turning on and off the switches 110. If the currentreduction signal takes the “low level”, the switches 110 are opened sothat the reference powers ΔPw1, ΔPw2 and ΔPe shown in FIG. 3A areoutput, whereas if the current reduction signal takes the “high level”,the switches 110 are closed so that the corrected powers ΔPw1-δPW1,ΔPw2-δPws and ΔPe-δPe are output which are lowered by an amountcorresponding to light absorption. Like parts to those shown in FIG. 4are represented by using identical reference numerals, and thedescription thereof is omitted.

With the above operations, the power can be corrected at high speed withsimplified circuit structure. Therefore, the reliability of data can beimproved and data can be recorded at high transfer speed.

A method of measuring beforehand light absorption factors according toan embodiment of the invention will be described. Referring to FIG. 12A,a repetitive pattern of, for example, a mark length 4 Tw and a spacelength 4 Tw is recorded in a test area (an area excepting the datafield) of a recording medium at powers of ΔPw1, ΔPw2 and ΔPe shown inFIG. 3A. This test area is in the non-record state and a record mark canbe recorded correctly without being affected by a light absorptionfactor. FIG. 12B shows a reflection light obtained by applying aconstant power ΔPe (DC erase power) to the record marks and space. Thesolid line indicates the reflection light with the record mark, and thebroken line indicates the reflection light without the record mark. Thelevel of the reflection light is detected at each sample pulse shown inFIG. 12C. The record level detector is similar to that shown in FIG. 7.The measured level with the record mark is Ve and that without therecord mark is Vw. The corrected powers (δPe, δPw1 and δPw2 arecalculated from the reference powers Δpe, ΔPw1 and ΔPw2 as in thefollowing:

δPe=ΔPe×Vw/Ve

δPw1=ΔPw1×Vw/Ve

δPw2=ΔPw2×Vw/Ve

The corrected powers lowered by the amount corresponding to lightabsorption used in FIG. 11 can be easily set as described above. Ifthese levels are detected before the record operation, a variation oflight absorption factors of recording media can be detected so that acompatibility between recording media can be improved.

In the above embodiments of the invention, a change in the reflectionlight level is detected by using the erase power. This change can alsobe detected by using the record power to perform the above-describedpower correction method. It is therefore possible to detect the changein the reflection light level by using both the erase and record powersto correct the power. Namely, if at least one of the erase power Pe andrecord powers Pw1 and Pw2 is corrected, the change in the shape of therecord mark can be suppressed. The more the change can be suppressed,the more the number of powers to be corrected is increased.

In the above embodiments, the power correction program shown in FIG. 8is stored in the controller 19 to execute it. Instead, the program maybe stored in a storage medium. When new record marks are recorded in arecording medium, i.e., when new data is recorded, the program is readfrom the storage medium into the controller 19 to execute it. Thecontroller 19 therefore has at least a storage device for storing theprogram and a processing unit for executing the program.

The power correction method of the embodiment used when record marks arerecorded, particularly when record marks are overwritten, can obviouslybe applied to both when data is written in the center of the record markand when data is written along the boarder of the record mark.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information recording/reproducing apparatusfor recording information by applying light from an optical head to arecord area of a recording medium and changing a state of the recordarea and for reading the information recorded in the record area, theapparatus comprising: a detector circuit for detecting a state ofreflection light from the recording medium while recording informationthereon; a control circuit for calculating a radiation power used forrecording the information in the recording medium, in accordance withthe state of reflection light; a pulse generator circuit for generatingrecord pulse information in accordance with the radiation power; and anoptical driver circuit for converting the record pulse information intooptical information in accordance with the radiation power and drivingthe optical head to record the light information into the recordingmedium; wherein said control circuit calculates the radiation power bycomparing a reflection light amount in an n-th (n is a natural number)record area detected with said detector circuit with a reflection lightamount in an (n+1)-th record area detected with said detector circuit.2. An information recording/reproducing apparatus for recordinginformation by applying light from an optical head to a record area of arecording medium and changing a state of the record area and for readingthe information recorded in the record area, the apparatus comprising: adetector circuit for detecting a state of reflection light from therecording medium while recording information thereon; a control circuitfor calculating a radiation power used for recording the information inthe recording medium, in accordance with the state of reflection light;a pulse generator circuit for generating record pulse information inaccordance with the radiation power; and an optical driver circuit forconverting the record pulse information into optical information inaccordance with the radiation power and driving the optical head torecord the light information into the recording medium; wherein saidcontrol circuit compares a (n+1)-th predicted value calculated from ann-th measured value with a (n+1)-th measured value to thereby controlthe irradiation power.
 3. An information recording/reproducing apparatusfor recording information by applying light from an optical head to arecord area of a recording medium and changing a state of the recordarea and for reading the information recorded in the record area, theapparatus comprising: a detector circuit for detecting a state ofreflection light from the recording medium while recording informationthereon; a control circuit for calculating a radiation power used forrecording the information in the recording medium, in accordance withthe state of reflection light; a pulse generator circuit for generatingrecord pulse information in accordance with the radiation power; and anoptical driver circuit for converting the record pulse information intooptical information in accordance with the radiation power and drivingthe optical head to record the light information into the recordingmedium; wherein said control circuit calculates the radiation power bycalculating a difference between a reflection light amount in an n-threcord area detected with said detector circuit and a reflection lightamount in an (n+1)-th record area detected with said detector circuit,when the difference exceeds a predetermined range.
 4. An informationrecording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidcontrol circuit controls said optical driver circuit so as to apply thecalculated radiation power to an area of the recording medium exceptingthe record area with information already recorded.
 5. An informationrecording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saiddetector circuit detects the reflection light state in the record areawith information already recorded, and said control circuit controlssaid optical driver circuit so as to record new information in therecord area with the information already recorded.
 6. An informationrecording/reproducing method for recording information by applying lightfrom an optical head to a record area of a recording medium and changinga state of the record area and for reading the information recorded inthe record area, the method comprising the steps of: (a) detecting astate of reflection light from the recording medium while recordinginformation thereon; (b) calculating a radiation power used forrecording the information in the recording medium, in accordance withthe reflection light state; (c) generating record pulse information inaccordance with the radiation power; and (d) converting the record pulseinformation into optical information in accordance with the radiationpower and driving the optical head to record the light information intothe recording medium; wherein said step (b) calculates the radiationpower by comparing a reflection light amount in an n-th (n is a naturalnumber) record area with a reflection light amount in an (n+1)-th recordarea.
 7. An information recording/reproducing method for recordinginformation by applying light from an optical head to a record area of arecording medium and changing a state of the record area and for readingthe information recorded in the record area, the method comprising thesteps of: (a) detecting a state of reflection light from the recordingmedium while recording information thereon; (b) calculating a radiationpower used for recording the information in the recording medium, inaccordance with the reflection light state; (c) generating record pulseinformation in accordance with the radiation power; and (d) convertingthe record pulse information into optical information in accordance withthe radiation power and driving the optical head to record the lightinformation into the recording medium; wherein said step (b) compares a(n+1)-th predicted value calculated from an n-th measured value with a(n+1)-th measured value to thereby control the irradiation power.
 8. Aninformation recording/reproducing method for recording information byapplying light from an optical head to a record area of a recordingmedium and changing a state of the record area and for reading theinformation recorded in the record area, the method comprising the stepsof: (a) detecting a state of reflection light from the recording mediumwhile recording information thereon; (b) calculating a radiation powerused for recording the information in the recording medium, inaccordance with the reflection light state; (c) generating record pulseinformation in accordance with the radiation power; and (d) convertingthe record pulse information into optical information in accordance withthe radiation power and driving the optical head to record the lightinformation into the recording medium; wherein said step (b) calculatesthe radiation power by calculating a difference between a reflectionlight amount in an n-th record area and a reflection light amount in an(n+1)-th record area, when the difference exceeds a predetermined range.